For you youngsters out there, the two books on the right were titled as a play on words of two popular books of that era, The Joy of Sex. Both of the books on lexicography were published in the early 80s. When my girlfriend (now my wife) and I were out at a bookstore, I found the first book. We both enjoyed it very much. It’s filled with etymology descriptions, but it also strains your brain a bit by tossing appropriate puzzles at you.

I knew that the blue cover follow up existed, but I had a devil of a time finding it; pre internet don’t you know. But perseverance prevailed.

If you enjoy wordplay, or simply like to bandy new vocabulary words about your tongue, I recommend these titles. You can get your paws on them easily nowadays.